A Rare Extended Practice
NASCAR’s Cup Series broke from its recent pattern by staging a 90‑minute practice session ahead of the upcoming All‑Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, a session that marks one of the longest rehearsals the series has held since the pandemic halted extended run‑outs.
Chase Elliott topped the lap count and noted that the extra set of tires available to teams felt foreign, describing the situation as unusual but not necessarily detrimental to the racing product.
Ty Gibbs logged 86 laps during the session, a distance he likened to an entire first stage of a race, and said he relished the extra time on track even though he still favors the current 25‑minute practice windows.
Driver Perspectives
Brad Keselowski, now a team owner, seized the moment to voice his concern that shrinking practice periods could jeopardize the sport’s long‑term health, arguing that more seat time is essential for developing future stars and for teams to fine‑tune setups.
NASCAR officials have defended the reduction in practice, citing the added financial burden it places on teams, a stance that has sparked a broader conversation about balancing cost constraints with the competitive integrity of the series.